music
Sonny Rollins, trailblazing jazz saxophonist, dies at age 95
Sonny Rollins, the tenor saxophonist and restless genius whose bold, distinctive tone and constant experimentation kept him on the cutting edge of jazz for more than 50 years, died Monday at age 95.
TL;DR
- Tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, a pioneering jazz musician, died at age 95.
- He was known for his bold, distinctive tone and constant experimentation, remaining on the cutting edge of jazz for over 50 years.
- Rollins was a key figure in the bebop era and one of the most influential saxophonists of his time, alongside John Coltrane and Charlie Parker.
- His career included collaborations with artists like the Rolling Stones and critical acclaim for albums such as 'Saxophone Colossus' and 'This is What I Do'.
- Rollins struggled with heroin addiction in his youth, undergoing treatment and emerging with a deeper philosophy on life.
- He took several sabbaticals throughout his career, including periods of seclusion for practice and to explore Zen Buddhism.
- Pulmonary fibrosis eventually led to his retirement from playing in 2014.
- He received a Grammy for 'This is What I Do' and another for his work on 'Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert'.